“It solely depends on Bangladesh. The government will decide which force will be in action and which will not,” he told a view-exchange meeting at the court premises in Narayanganj city's Chandmari area.

“Can we ask for disbanding the US army simply because allegations have been made against them for killing many innocent people in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he questioned.

In a modern civilised democracy, noted the NHRC chief, a public organisation cannot turn into a party organisation.

Other than the NHRC, many local rights bodies have raised their voice against extrajudicial killings, crossfire deaths and forced disappearances, said Mizanur.

Regarding the report of New York-based HRW, she said local rights bodies have been talking about the issues for quite some time now.

She added: “But there is a difference between the language of their [HRW's] recommendations and that of ours.

“We have always suggested that the Rab should stick to its terms of reference. But now we see that it [Rab] has deviated from that.”

Sometimes the Rab shows that people are delighted to see the killings (of terrorists), but curbing terrorism in this way is illegal, anti-constitutional and extra-judicial, she mentioned.

Advocate Khalilur Rahman presided over the meeting.

The HRW released a report on Wednesday in the capital. It claimed that the ongoing trial in 2009 BDR mutiny is fundamentally flawed and the accused are subjected to gross human rights violations.

The rights body called upon the government to immediately halt the trial and disband the Rab.

Meanwhile, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has alleged that the Bangladesh government has planned to arrest the rights activists who provided information for the recently published report of HRW.

In a statement, the AHRC claimed that they have learnt from reliable sources that there are discussions among some quarters in Bangladesh government to arrest the rights activists.

The government is also considering to charge them with treason, sedition and other criminal offences, added the statement.

The AHRC urged the government not to take any action against any human rights organisation or rights activist, for whatever contribution they might have made to the report.

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Has the NHRC Chairman heard the word 'Global village'? Why can't an international organisation like the Human Rights Watch express an opinion about Bangladesh and it's law-enforcing agencies? Has he forgotten that it was a global outcry that forced the US administration to rethink it's policy on Guantanamo Bay. It was Human Rights Watch and it's fellow organisations that have raised concern and have been fighting the cause of victims of tortures worldwide irrespective of their nationalities. Neither he nor his government ever expressed any concern when a Bangladeshi citizen was kept in communication at Guantanmo.

: Ahmed, London

I know it is hard to swallow unwarranted advise. But you got to ask yourself, why the international community is pressuring you to do something. If we wanted to become a civilized nation, don't you think it was long overdue to make sure the nation's security apparatus don't get free access to people's bed room, do not get license to kill at will and pay price for forced disappearance?

: Jumana Sarwar

Comments

Sunday, July 8, 2012 07:18 AM GMT+06:00 (142 weeks ago)

Without beating around the bush we better accept HRW's recommendations.

FreemanSunday, July 8, 2012 07:50 AM GMT+06:00 (142 weeks ago)

This is the first time, I have heard that one human right group is challenging another human right group. I am very glad to thank D. Mizanur Rahman, the chairman of NHRC, who made a brave statement. Many foreign organizations like HRW under the banner of human rights are doing politics. Did HRW tell anything against the US invasion in Iraq that killed about 5 million people? HRW did not, because it is the organization of the superpower that appoints such sort of HRW throughout the world to do politics.

Abul KashemSunday, July 8, 2012 10:03 AM GMT+06:00 (142 weeks ago)

Slating HRW statement is easy but to ensure human right in the country is difficult. This happens due to frequent limitless vulgarity of the ministers and violation of human rights in the country. Mizanur Rahman should refrain from giving meaningless comments.

rchSunday, July 8, 2012 11:45 AM GMT+06:00 (142 weeks ago)

I guess NHRC chief thinks he is the only guy to advise others!

Omar KhalidSunday, July 8, 2012 07:11 AM GMT+06:00 (142 weeks ago)

Chairman of NHRC Prof Mizanur Rahman only passes comments on this and that from time to time. We do not see any concrete outcome of his commission in terms of improving human rights situation in the country.